KASAIA Morgan plays in the Taupō 10's U15 Girls National Wahine Toa 10 a side carnival. PHOTO SUPPLIED
DAME Farah Palmer expects a new “wave” of women in rugby, after the Black Ferns’ recent world cup win.
“We’re going to have a huge influx of girls and women potentially wanting to play and … get involved with their local clubs,” she said.
She told King Country News that New Zealand Rugby is preparing a women and girls systems strategy; its report will be launched in early 2023.
“What do we have to do to get our system right in our clubs and our provincial unions and our Super Rugby clubs ready for this wave that’s going to come? And how do we make sure that it’s not just a fly by night moment?
“This will be a positive for not only women but rugby in general,” Farah said. The report, written under the auspices of NZR women’s head Claire Beard, is out for feedback from rugby boards and provincial unions before release.
Farah said it was not just about playing. She wants to see women “fully integrated into everything we do in the rugby space. So coaching, administration, refereeing, officiating, volunteering.”
That means leadership roles too.
“I’ve been doing that, trying to push to get more women involved in leadership roles in rugby.”
King Country Rugby Union general manager Kurt McQuilkin said it was an “ideal” and “exciting” time.
“We’re on a pretty good trajectory, but with the way the world cup turned out for us, for New Zealand rugby in general, we’re looking at some big things ahead.”
Tongariro Sports and Waitete clubs both had senior women’s teams doing well in their respective Bay of Plenty and Waikato competitions, he said. Most local schools had wahine rugby sides, many playing in the Wahine Toa programme.
In 2022, King Country fielded a senior wahine team, the Trailblazers – female counterparts to the Rams men’s side – as well as its U18 girls.
Kurt said other clubs would be “pricking up their ears.” The Taumarunui rugby club had already run musters in preparation for the upcoming season.
“That would bring a third senior wahine team into the union, which would be a great achievement,” Kurt said.
Aspiring women players should approach their local club, Kurt said.
“It’s the more the merrier, the more players that get along, the better it is for rugby and our King Country region.”
“[Or] get in touch with our KC wahine development officer Abbie Keech. They can find her on our KCRU website or facebook.
And if women want to start new teams? Farah Palmer suggests not being afraid to take action.
“First of all, it starts with asking, ‘we want to have a team’ or ‘we’d love to play’ or ‘we want to get involved’ and just start talking to people, and keep talking until you find a champion, someone who is willing to help you and keep pushing, and writing letters, not only talking but writing a formal letter,” she said.
